Improvement in electric car-detaching devices



w. W. CARSON! Electric Gar-Detaching Devices N0 155, 5 Patented 0ct.13,1874.

ATTORNEYS.

THE GRAPHIC CO. PHOYO'LITDLJQS I FAR-K PLACEJLT.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FEIGE.

WILLIAM w. CARSON, OF HIGH BRIDGE, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN ELECTRIC CAR-DETACHlNG DEVICES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent .No. 155,858, dated October 13, 1374; application filed March 28, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM W. CARSON,"

of High Bridge, in the county of Westchester and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Electric Oar-Detachin g Device, of which the following is a specification:

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 represents a sectional side elevation of a car with my electric detaching device applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a detail vertical transverse section on line 0 c, Fig. 1, of the truck-frame, showing the pivoted lever-frame for establishing the electric circuit at the instant the car is thrown off the track. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the mechanism for detaching the draw-head simultaneously with the establishment of the circuit by the lever-frame; and Fig. 4 is a detail vertical central section of the cartridge to be ignited by the electric spark,

and produce thereby the detachment of drawhead.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The object of my invention is to furnish for railroad-cars an improved electric detaching device or apparatus, which will instantly disconnect any car from the train when any wheel thereof leaves the rail, and which allows, also, the instant separation of any car from within the car or train, so as to protect, thereby, the passengers more effectually than hitherto, against danger by accidents.

My invention consists of a pivoted leverframe, which is applied above the rail between the wheels of each cartruck, and placed in electrical circuit by means of spring-contacts with a powder-charge and detaching mechanism of the draw-head. The closing of the circuit, whether by the action of the lever-frame on the spring-contacts when the car is thrown off the track, or by direct action from the car, ignites the powdereharge, separates thereby the draw-head, and detaches the car.

In the drawing, A represents the frame of any railroad passenger or other car, which is provided at both sides of the trucks, between the wheels of the same, with pendent leverframes B, placed in the direction of the rails, at suitable distances above the same. Leverframe 13 consists of central vertical rod a, which is hung in a top' plate, I), and pivoted with its lower end to the horizontal rods d. The lower end of rod a, as well as rods (1, are placed slightly above the rails, the outer ends of rods 01, which are preferably of X-shaped cross-section, being pivoted to hangers 0, applied stationary to the truck-frame. A leverrod, f, is pivoted to vertical rod a, and connected to the rear end of a lever, g, fulcrumed at g to brackets g of the truckframe. The front end of lever g has a small tongue or wedge, h, pivoted to it, which is placed under band-spring h of the truck-frame, in such a manner that the same is retained thereby in raised position. The free end of bandspring h communicates, by suitable wire connection, with one pole of a galvanic battery at the inside of the car or other part of the train, while its contact k below its end, communicates with the opposite pole of the same.

As soon as any part of the lever-frame B strikes the rail or other object, by means of any wheel leaving the track, the rods cl and a are forced in upward or side direction, and impart sutficient play to the levers f and g, that pivoted tongue h is detached, and thereby spring h carried down upon the contact-point h closing thereby the circuit. The contactwire passes, before returning to the battery, to a powder-charge or cartridge, 0, which is inserted into a chamber, 0, of latch D. The cartridge 0 may be made in any approved manner, according to the state of the art, the powder to be inclosed in a coating of some impervious material, the necessary heat be ing produced by a platinum wire, '5, connecting the insulated wire ends over a piece of horn or other non-conductor.

Latch D is pivoted sidewise to the guideframe E, by which the draw-head F is at tached to the car-frame A, and held in position along frame E by means of a strong bandspring, D, placed over the end of latch D. Chamber 0 connects, by a small aperture or channel, I, with a recess, m, fitting over a small piston, m, of frame E. Latch D locks, also, by a slot or recess in front of the car tridge-chamber, over the end of a lateral cross-bolt, F, which is pivoted to the opposite side of frame E, forming the connection with draw-head F and its guide-frame E. Latch D is detached from spring 1) by the explosion of the cartridge at the moment when the circuit is closed at the lever-frame, and thrown in outward direction, releasing the pivoted cross-bolt F, and thereby the drawhead, which slides out and disconnects the car from the next adjoining one.

The wire connection of the lever-frames and draw-heads, with the battery in the car or other part of the train, may also be so arranged that, by pressing akey and establishing the circuit over separate wires, the car or any part of the train may be separated, the arrangement of the electric circuits being made in as simple and effective a manner as the requirements of the case may allow.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The improved electric car-detaching de vice, consisting of the pivoted lever-frames of the trucks, the mechanism for releasing the draw-head, and an automatically-closed electric circuit, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

' 2. The pivoted lever-frame B, composed of pendent rod 0, with pivoted bottom rods d, combined by intermediate lever-connection and tongue-piece h, with spring h and contact 71/ for closing the circuit automatically when the car-Wheels leave the rails, substantially as specified.

3. The combination of latch D, cartridgechamber G, pivoted to guide-frame E, bandspring D, and pivoted cross -bolt F, and an electrical circuit for firing the cartridge, all operating substantially in the manner set 6 WILLIAM W. CARSON.

Witnesses:

T. B. MosHER, I ALEX. F. ROBERTS. 

